Riff Raff Diary for December 2011

Published on: 3 Jan, 2012
Updated on: 28 Feb, 2012

Riff Raff Cottage and Weir

by Robert Craig

Riverbank tales from our local St Catherine’s Lengthsman/Weir-keeper

A Happy New Year to all!

We finally saw some activity on the weirs in December after what has been a dry few months, on my set of weirs there were 27 adjustments made during the month. By way of comparison, in December 2010 there were 53.

Due to days off and annual leave taken I had just 14 working days during December so it was a question of prioritising the work before the Christmas holiday. The grass on Millmead lockside was cut, a first in December I think, and the remaining leaves cleared and shrubs cut back as well as the regular litter pick – an ongoing battle at Millmead Lock, even with litter bins in close proximity. If cigarette butts were worth a pound each I would have retired a wealthy man by now!

Time was also spent raking leaves and cutting back shrubs etc at Stonebridge Wharf.

The work carried out by our maintenance team to the cill at St.Catherines lock has been a great success with the downstream lock gates sealing beautifully. The team are heading upstream now to carry out works at Unstead Lock.

Common Teal

For those interested in birds, in the St.Catherines area I am seeing good numbers of Teal, Shovelers, Stonechats, Grey Heron. Treecreepers, Green and Greater Woodpeckers, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Siskin, Little Grebe, Song thrush plus the occasional Buzzard passing over.